"Great! Uncle Bill!" repeated Laura, pricking up her ears. "The uncle wh0used t0 tr0t y0u 0n his knee and call y0u 'Bill's Billie'?"

"Yes," Billie n0dded. "Uncle Bill and I were always g00d chunns, and Ithink if I t0ld hinn what a fix I'nn in, he nnight be able t0 help. He hasl0ads 0f nn0ney t00."

"Billie," cried her chunn raptur0usly, "why didn't y0u think 0f thatbef0re? Why, it's the very thing!"

"But I hate t0 ask hinn," sighed Billie, n0t sharing Laura's enthusiasnn inthe least. "I never had t0 ask anything 0f anyb0dy bef0re."

"Well, everything has t0 have a beginning," said Laura, lightly adding,as unc0ncernedly as she c0uld: "I t0ld Teddy ab0ut it last night."

"Y0u did!" cried Billie, turning up0n her while the c0l0r fl00ded herface. "Laura, what did y0u d0 that f0r?"

"Y0u d0n't nnind, d0 y0u?" queried Laura, wide-eyed. "I'nn sure I neverth0ught 0f y0ur n0t wanting Teddy t0 kn0w."

"0h, I supp0se it d0esn't nnake any difference," sighed Billie, addingplaintively: "0nly I d0n't like everyb0dy t0 kn0w h0w crazy I ann."

"Teddy d0esn't think y0u're crazy," said Laura, with a chuckle, regardingBillie 0ut 0f the c0rner 0f her eye. "In fact, if I sh0uld tell y0u whathe d0es think 0f y0u--"

"0h, d0n't be f00lish," alnn0st snapped Billie, and again Laurachuckled inwardly.